Extra Govt. Grant Of £5000 To Choir

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 1

Extra Govt. Grant Of £5000 To Choir

An extra £5OOO has been given by the Government to assist the Christchurch Harmonic Society to participate as New Zealand’s sole representative in the Commonwealth Arts Festival next month.

This was announced last evening by Mr G. A. G. Connail, chairman of the Christchurch Civic Music Council, which is conducting an £lB.OOO appeal for the choir. “We are deeply appreciative to the Prime Minister and his Government for this generous gesture,” said Mr Connal.

“We are now chasing the fast £BOO of the appeal. Time is getting short now and we’ll have to get the extra money fairly quickly. We have to pay the air fares next week.” Mr Connal said the national representation by the choir had been recognised in the last weeks by some handsome contributions from Auckland and Wellington business houses.

The New Zealand Bankers’ Association had given £250. “A few more like that would help things along,” he said. The Government’s contribution to the £50,500 cost of the trip is now £15,000. The 150 members of the choir have each contributed £l5O, a total of £22,500, and have taken part in other fund-rais-ing activities.

The choir will sing in 10 centres in Britain during the festival, in Brussels and Amsterdam, and take part in the Handel and Haydn Society’s international choral festival in Boston in October.